Treatment of anemia in patients under radiotherapy with subcutaneous epoetenium alpha 10,000 IU three times a week and 40,000 IU once a week

Samper Ots, P.; Rodriguez Perez, A.; Martin D. M. guel, M.; Saez Garrido, J.; Delgado Perez, J. M.

Purpose: We present the results of the treatment of anemia in cancer patients under radiotherapy with two different administration schedules of epoetin alfa. Material and methods: One hundred and eighteen anemic patients were treated with erythropoietin. Fifty seven patients were treated with 10.000 IU three-times a week (group A) and sixty one patients with 40.000 IU once a week (group B). Hemoglobin levels, transfusions requirements and quality of life were evaluated. Results: The hemoglobin increase was 2.1 g/dL in group A, and 2.2 g/dL in group B. The mean duration of the treatment was 5.5 and 5.3 weeks, respectively. Three patients of group A required transfusions during the study. We observed a favorable evolution of the quality of life for the sample as a whole. Conclusions: Epoetin alfa once a week or three-times a week is an effective treatment to increase the hemoglobin level in anemic cancer patients under radiotherapy.